We've decided we need some additional security. Our van is alarmed & we have the Alko hitch lock & Alko Secure wheel lock.
I started looking at tracking devices & then saw the Supermule. On the one hand I'm thinking if the Supermule stops it being towed then we wouldn't need a Tracker. But on the other hand, if someone could overcome the Supermule our van would just disappear into the night with no Tracker.
Unfortunately, we can't afford both so I'm looking for advice/opinions on which would be the best to go for?
You've got to go with your head on this one adsheadv.Taking into account the costs involved be careful what you choose.Have you checked what savings on your insurance you'll be entitled to when you have one or the other fitted?.A tracker might pay for itself over time with insurance discounts you might be entitled to
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If the thief does not know you have the super mule fitted and he tries to tow it it will wreck the floor of the van.
At least with the tracker you may get it back without damage.
I bought a supermule for a previous van some years ago. A really strong security device but being made of metal would still be vulnerable to a thief with cutting gear. The mule is fitted to the caravan chassis not the floor of the van so any attempted theft would not damage the floor.
The Tracker is entirely different, not visible, will not prevent theft but if working as it should the stolen vehicle should be back in your possession within hours. One of the points other people make about Tracker devices is - would you want your van back after it had been in a thief's possession for over a day or so. My own opinion about Trackers is that hopefully I would get the van back very quickly before any lowlife messes up the inside also with a bit of luck the police will arrest the culprit.
A combination of solid security eg. clamp, mule or whatever plus Tracker would be my choice.
Quote: Originally posted by Dreadnought on 11/2/2010
You've got to go with your head on this one adsheadv.Taking into account the costs involved be careful what you choose.Have you checked what savings on your insurance you'll be entitled to when you have one or the other fitted?.A tracker might pay for itself over time with insurance discounts you might be entitled to
Remember that you have to pay an annual subscription fee, which is going to outweigh any insurance saving. But if I had to choose between the two I'd spend the money on ... a caravan mover!
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Try searching for a 'Metis' tracker, it is subscription free and will text you if it moves 'on its own'. You can also check its position on line on a map.
I'm considering one of these for my new van...especially after watching the BBC Cops with Cameras where a dog was towed away in a stolent van....better safe than sorry/
Phantom Tracking Systems Phantom supply security tracking devices that use GPS satellites to protect your caravan or motorhome offering discounts on insurance, and the ultimate alarm system
Thanks all. Looks like the consensus is to go with the Tracker. They do seem to vary in price so we'll contact the insurance Co tomorrow to see which ones they recommend & go from there...
I can't find anything on the actual tracker on the Locatea.net website or its link to gtrack.co.uk. Maybe the information on this website is out of date, as it appears that they no longer sell the hardware?
Hi Ratty, good info did'nt know they existed, thanks,
hi akernow, i clicked on link in Ratty's post and clicked on web link to (locate website) then clicked on the Locate logo in the add,took me right into another part of the site.
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Whatever you do, avoid a tracker that uses GPS only as you can buy jammers that prevent them operating and where there is no signal, i.e. rural that is the end of the story for your caravan.
Some trackers will notify you that the caravan is being moved and then it is up to you to notify the police and for you to track your caravan updating the police constantly which in my opinion is a bit of a hassle and that is if the police will be interested. this gets a bit tricky if the thief operates in an area when the signal is weak or intermittent.
The original TRACKER uses both VHF and GPS and is associated with all the police forces in the UK plus the original and proper TRACKER is an international company with the highest recovery rate in the world. Cost about £455 and you can pay a one off life time subscription of £99.
Bear in mind that over the next few years we are going to experience a lot of solar activity which will affect anything using GPS technology. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8494225.stm
Thanks for that Surfer01 - think we need to do more research & learn a lot more before we take the plunge to make sure we buy the best product (don't like buying things without fully understanding them!). If we need to spend more on a Tracker we'll just have to do without a motor mover for a bit longer!
Tracker was developed in South Africa which has the highest car crime rate in the world and insurance companies over there insist that a tracker that has VHF and GPS capabilities is fitted to all new vehicles. generally two trackers are fitted because when they nick a vehicle over there it is a two man job and the second man is there to look for the tracker and to remove it however two is a major problem for thieves. Here is a link to a highly effective deterrent. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrzMGdYWZc